My LORD’s BibleThe Greater Holy Assembly (Idra Rabba Qadisha) 40
945THUS in this Adam androgyneity hath commenced to be disposed when it hath been formed in its disposition. It hath commenced from His back. (Otherwise, from His breast.)
946Between the two arms, in that part whereunto the beard hangeth down, which is called Tiphereth, the Beauty.
947And this Beauty is expanded and disposeth two breasts.
949Insomuch that through that Tiphereth, Beauty, Adam becometh in one body, Male and Female.
950This is that which is written, Isa. xliv. 13: “According to the beauty of a man, KThPARTh ADM, Ke-Tiphereth Adam, that it may remain in the house.”
951When the countenance of the Female Head is created, one curled lock of hair at the back of Microprosopus hangeth over the head of the Woman.
952And all hairs red gold are produced in Her head; yet so that other colours are intermixed therewith.
953This is that which is written, Cant. vii. 5: “The hair of Thy head like ARGMN, Argaman, purple.”
954What is Argaman? Colours intermixed with other colours.
955This Tiphereth, Beauty, hath been extended from the heart, and penetrateth it, and passeth through unto the other side, and instituteth the formations from the Countenance of the Woman even unto Her heart; so that from the parts about the heart it taketh its rise on this side, and in the parts about the heart it terminateth on that side.
956Moreover, this Tiphereth is extended, and it formeth the internal parts of a Man.
957And it entereth into and disposeth therein all mercies and aspects of mercies.
958Also we have learned that in those internal parts are comprehended six hundred thousand Lords of Mercies, and that they are called the Lords of the Internal Parts.
959Whence it is written, Jer. xxxi. 20: “Therefore My bowels are troubled for him, I will surely have mercy upon him, saith Tetragrammaton.”
960We have learned that this Tiphereth, Beauty, embraceth Mercies and Judgment, and that Mercy is extended in the Male.
961And it passeth over and goeth through unto (otherwise, shineth on) the other side, and formeth the internal parts of a Woman on the side of Judgment; and thus also are Her internal parts disposed.
962We have learned that the Male hath been conformed on His side (otherwise, from His heart), in 248 members; of which some are within, some without; some Mercies, some Judgments.
963All which pertain unto Judgment, cohere in Judgment around the hinder part, where the Woman is extended; and they coalesce and are extended round about on that side.
964Also we have learned that five nakednesses can be revealed on that side, which are the five judgments; and these five judgments are extended into 248 paths.
965And thus have we learned: the voice in the Woman is uncovered; the hair in the Woman is uncovered; the leg in the Woman is uncovered; the hand in the Woman is uncovered; the foot in the Woman is uncovered.
966And also, furthermore, concerning these two our companions have not inquired, yet these two have more nakedness.
968Longitudo autem membri hujus est 248 mundorum, et omnes illi pendent in orificio membri hujus, quod dicitur I, Yod.
969Et cum detegitur Yod, orificium membri; detegitur Benignitas superna.
970And this member is the Benignity, quo nomine tamen proprie vocatur orificium membri; neither is it called Benignity until I, Yod, orificii membri, is uncovered.
971And come, behold, Abraham is not called perfect in that Benignity, until I, Yod, of the member is uncovered; but when that is uncovered he is called perfect.
972This is that which is written: “Walk before Me and be thou perfect; really and truly perfect, Gen. xvii. 1.
973Also it is written, Ps. xviii. 24: “I will be upright before Him, and will keep myself from the sinner.”
974Who is he concerning whom the discourse is both in the first and second instance (in this passage)? Assuredly, he who uncovereth that Yod; et cavet, ne Yod istud introducat in potestatem adversam; so that he may have part in the world to come, and that he may be bound together in the sheaf of life.
975What is this, “in potestatem adversam”? Even that which is written, Mal. ii. 11: “And hath married the daughter of a strange god.”
976And therefore is it written: “I will be upright before Him,” because he hath become perfect in the uncovering of Yod,” and I will keep myself from the sinner.”
977Et dum extenditur membrum hoc, etiam extenditur latus rigoris de illis rigoribus sinistræ in fæmina.
978Et inseritur in fæminam, in loco quodam, et signatioram facit in nuditate, seu parte maxime contegenda in toto corpore fæminino.
979Et ille locus dicitur nuditas ab omnibus occultanda, locus scilicet pro membro illo, quod dicitur Benignitas, ut scilicet mitigetur rigor iste, qui continet quinque rigores.
980And that Benignity comprehendeth in itself five Benignities (otherwise, and herein existeth the Benignity from the other Benignities). And Benignity is from those on the right, but Severity from those on the left.
981And when the latter is mitigated by the former He is called man, consisting in both aspects.
982And therefore in all the crowns (the former state of things) was not permanent, before that the conformations of the King were prepared by the Ancient of the Ancient Ones, so that He might construct the worlds, and form (their) conformations, for the purpose of establishing that Woman, so that She might be mitigated.
983Until the supernal Benignity could descend, and then the conformations of the Woman became permanent, and were mitigated by this member (of Microprosopus), which is called the Benignity.
984This is that which is written, Gen. xxxvi.: “And these are the kings which reigned in the land of Edom;” which is the place where all the judgments are found, and they are the constitutions of the Woman.
985For it is not written, “Who were,” but “Who reigned,” because they were not mitigated until all were formed, and that Benignity went forth.
986Therefore is it said,” And he died,” because they were not permanent, neither was Judgment mitigated through Judgment.
987But, and if thou sayest: “That if it be thus that all are judgments, wherefore is it written, Gen. xxxvi. 37: ‘And Saul of Rechoboth by the waters reigned in his stead,’ for this man truly doth not appear (to symbolize) a judgment?”
988We have learned that all denote judgment, excepting one, which last remaineth.
989But this Saul of Rechoboth by the waters is one order (otherwise, one side or aspect), an order which is expanded, and goeth forth from Rechoboth by the waters.
990And this is Binah, wherefrom are opened the fifty gates in the aspects of the world of lights and luminaries.
991This is what is said concerning Rechoboth by the waters. And they were not all permanent. Thou shalt not say that they were abolished, but that they were not permanent in that kingdom which is from the side of the Woman.
992Until there was excited and extended that Last One of them all concerning whom it is said: “And Hadar, HDR, reigned after him.”
993Who is Hadar? The Supernal Benignity.
995“And the name of his wife was Mechetabel, MChITBAL,” herein are they mitigated together, and his (Hadar's) wife is named, which is not written concerning any other of them. MChITBAL, Mechetabel (which bears the signification of “as if were made better by the name of Benignity, AL, El, MChI TB AL”), mitigation of the one by the other.
996“The daughter of MTRD, Matred,” the elaborations on the side of Severity: “the daughter of MIZHB, Mezahab;” that is, they have been firmly contempered and intertwined together—namely MI, Me, Mercury, and ZHB, Zahab, Gold, Mercy and Judgment.